It is morning.
It is after.
For those who passed through
Hurricane Sandy
Tropical Storm Sandy
Nor’easter Sandy
Frankenstorm
it will,
as for anyone
who lives through any
significant, dramatic, traumatic event,
always be after.
It is morning.
It is after.
In varying degrees of
shock and grief,
faith and hope,
assessment begins,
analysis begins,
recovery begins,
rebuilding begins.
It is morning.
It is after.
30 October 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Current Events, New York, Poem
From the comfort of my home,
I watch NYU Hospital being evacuated –
patients, sometimes children,
carried down the stairs
(for the elevators do not work),
riding on gurneys,
accompanied by medical personnel,
emerge from the building
where EMTs meet them –
shield them from the wind and wet –
hustle them to the first ambulance
in the queue, its lights flashing.
As the patient gets on board,
the ambulance leaves
and another takes its place.
Tears run down my cheeks
toward a broad smile.
29 October 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Current Events, New York, Poem
I wait.
I watch.
I see the pictures.
Flooding streets.
Pounding surf.
Fallen trees.
It has only begun,
my imagination runs.
My heart breaks.
My spirit grieves.
For sisters and brothers
already battered by the storm,
lives lost, homes gone.
My heart wrenches.
My spirit aches.
For sisters and brothers
who have no shelter
from the storm.
My heart leaps.
My spirit soars.
For sisters and brothers
who go into the storm
responding to human needs.
I watch.
I wait.
29 October 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Current Events, New York
Again I wait in privilege.
This time the date is with
Sandy, not Irene.
Hurricane?
Tropical storm?
Frankenstorm?
Whatever name,
I wait.
Sandy approaches.
I have worked my way
through the preparation drill.
Candles bought.
Batteries obtained.
Electronic products recharged.
Water bottled.
Food purchased –
what happens to year-old applesauce?
Does it go bad?
Does it ferment?
I straighten the apartment,
move and position items –
later tonight I will fill the bathtub
and light again the sentinel.
I prepare.
I wait.
Watching football.
Tweeting, posting.
Contacting family, friends
I wait.
I wait and I remember,
yet again,
the privilege that is mine:
I have a place,
a solid place,
a dry place,
a safe place:
a roof above,
walls around;
I have
water to drink
and water to flush;
I have flashlights, candles for light
food that needs no cooking;
clothes to keep me warm;
loved ones who will check upon.
So much I have,
while sisters, brothers have but little,
while brothers, sisters have none at all.
I wait and I remember,
yet again,
the privilege that is mine
I wait and I pray,
for those who have too little,
for those who have too much,
for myself.
I wait and as before I wonder,
after the waiting,
after the storm,
what I will do differently
with the privileges that are mine?
28 October 2012
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Current Events, New York, Poem
With thanks for the courage and witness of the Rev. Marcia Mount Shoop, An Open Letter to Politicians about Rape, Jessica Valenti, Ending Rape Illiteracy, Soraya Chemaly, 50 Actual Facts About Rape, Julie Bishop Craig, What Men Don’t Know About Rape, and others, some reflections:
rape is
rape
rape is
control
domination
violation
exploitation
rape is
assault
crime
violence
abuse
rape is
denial of
personhood
humanity
God’s image
rape is
never legitimate
never deserved
never gray
never, never, never
rape is
rape
rape is
to be stopped
because
rape is
rape
Shire on the Hudson
27 October 2012
Filed under Current Events, Human Rights, Poem
We met once.
We did not speak.
But for a few moments, we walked together.
On April 4, 1994, the Cleveland baseball team opened a new stadium.
My friends and colleagues among the indigenous peoples and the antiracism activists of Cleveland have a simple message. People are people. Not mascots. The name and logo of the Cleveland baseball team need to go.
The Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance organized an educational event for the stadium opening. The event included a public witness/demonstration at the new stadium. I attended.
As the stadium opened, we gathered in its shadow. Words were said. Prayers prayed. And then we walked in silence around the stadium.
Russell Means attended the event as one of the speakers. He walked with us. And for a few moments, we walked side-by-side. We made eye contact. We smiled. But no words passed our lips.
Russell, who journeyed to the spirit world early this morning, was a big man. And I walk slowly. I did not keep up for long. But those few moments, I remember, for they were a gift, an honor.
Russell lived a life of courage – working tirelessly and faithfully for the well-being of his people – of all indigenous peoples – of all oppressed peoples – of us all.
I give thanks for his life, his work, and his witness. I give thanks that, for a few moments on one April day in Cleveland, we walked together. I give thanks for all who in any way carry on the struggle for human dignity.
The National Museum of the American Indian will present a symposium: Racist Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports on Thursday, November 1, 2012, 10 AM – 5:45 PM in Washington, D.C. I will not be there, but the event will be Webcast. As my friend Molly suggests, watching – and then taking action – would be an appropriate way to honor Russell Means.
People are people. Not mascots.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights
This live online conference will be aired on Thursday, October 25 at 2:00 PM Eastern. Here are the details:
The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is excited to present this live online conference exploring how communities can be safer without the death penalty. The conference will be broadcast over the web and will be approximately one hour in length. View the conference right here, on this page!
This will be a video conference with presenters live in California, Maryland and Massachusetts. We need your help to advertise this event.
Join us for a fascinating discussion addressing the question, “does the death penalty actually keep us safer?” with Charles Ogletree, Harvard University and founder of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Ron McAndrew, former warden of Florida State Prison who conducted that state’s final electrocutions,Kirk Bloodsworth, the first person exonerated from death row using DNA evidence, and Jerry Givens, former corrections officer from Virginia who put 62 men to death during his 17 years as an executioner.
Send us your questions in advance by tweeting them to #abolition2012.
Please let us know if you will gather colleagues and friends to watch this event together so that we can acknowledge you during the program! Virtual gatherings work too!
Filed under Capital Punishment, Current Events, Death Penalty
Today, World Teachers’ Day, I give thanks for:
Father
Mother
Grandmother
Aunts
Sister
Brother-in-law
Cousin
Miss Stuck
Jim Hassel
Larry Sells
Jack Stotts
and all (well at least most) of the teachers and educators I have known.
Each has touched my life and shaped my being.
From each I learned about the subject matter at hand.
From the best I learned to think, to question, to live, to be.
This day, as I should every day, I give thanks for teachers.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Current Events, Family, United Nations
My friend and colleague Joe is also a poet. I always enjoy the work he shares. When I had read and re-read this one, I finally got up the nerve to ask him if I could post it. I am grateful he said yes and grateful for his writing.
ANOTHER TUESDAY: Red White & Blues
Another Tuesday indeed.
Bright shining spectacular morning sun rising.
Fresh almost autumn breezes.
Another wonderfully grateful start the day.
Calmly remembering.
English friend’s prayer from across The Pond.
Knotting key stripes tied to anniversary.
Rush run catch express bus into Manhattan.
That Tuesday changed road ride to work til now.
Like US flags half-staffed commuters conscious.
Where we were where we are now then again.
Quiet movements search hopes, peace, hope.
Words not needed facts speak for themselves.
Carefully conscious going forward together.
Through urban cavern slice of Freedom Tower soars.
Rising up, shining rising new, far, tall beyond beyond.
Stirs so many so much living monumental memories.
Large tear freezes moment reminding roots + links.
Decade plus red, white blues color considerations.
Uptown Midtown pause respects at US Mission to UN.
Holy Family Church steel relief Easter Christ soars too
Deep stained glass blues, saints letting light through.
Candles in calm reverence seeing all naming names.
Echo arrives Ground Zero officer speaks his heart.
Praying prayers rising up here everywhere today.
Family first, friends too, neighbors, near/far colleagues.
Beyond morning rushing other side of silence rises up.
Day’s works here & around spinning universe challenge.
Seize the Abundance, hold on, stand firm, reach out.
Still Tuesday.
Still NYC, Washington, Shanksville, our world.
Still hopes carrying losses courageously.
Still fears unpredictable, uncertainties, unknowns.
Still amazing graces given, shared, treasured.
Still paths to peace possible – necessary all.
Still – HOME.
joseph cornelius donnelly
tuesday, september 11, 2012 – new york city
Filed under Current Events, Friends, New York, Poem
Along the Graybeard Trail 